Publishing Contemporary Artist Books, Zines, Monographs & Art Prints

In 1995 John Carrera found an old 1898 Webster’s International Dictionary under his grandfathers reading chair. Over the next ten years Carrera would organize and print 4,000 of the estimated 13,000 engravings now owned by Yale University.

The labels for the engravings were composed, cast and redistributed on a 1938 Linotype Model A. This machine is an amazing feat of engineering and a beautiful showcase of what is possible without the use of electronics.

After printing, the signatures are folded and cut by hand, holes are punch for sewing, signatures are then sewn together. The spines are then pasted up, edges trimmed and page edges are decorated with multiple layers of coloured rubber stamps. Boards are attached for the hardcover. Various leather techniques are uses to cover the boards and create the cover as well as decorate. Raised accents on the spine, letterpress gold leaf labels, and designs embeded into the leather cover are some of the decorations which adorn the book.

This mini documentary highlights the process of reproducing a book of these beautiful engravings. It also provides us a glimpse at what we take for granted and a appreciation at the patience and craftsmanship of the ol’ time book binder as well as many other dying art forms. Long live the book and it’s appreciation.

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1. “Other Travels”- Documentary on Troy Lovegates “Other” bicycles from Portugal to Denmark. Troy Lovegates and Erik Burke will create a documentary of the art making journey. Artist “Other”  aka Troy Lovegates and film maker Erik Burke are producing a documentary of a bicycle journey from Portugal to Denmark. The journey will include art making along the way and a final exhibition at MOHS [...]...

This post is tagged Book, Book Arts, Bookbinding, Letterpress